t's milk as I want, in
spite of all the stupid, wicked, cruel Susanas in the world. And I shall
throw you into a dungeon with nothing but mice and rats and serpents and
centipedes--yes, and snails that leave a white slimy trail over you
when they crawl! Ugh! And I will have your hands tied, so that you shall
not be able to brush them off when they tickle your neck. Yes, I will,
Susana! I swear it, and I am growing big--so big! And soon I shall be
old enough to have you put in prison with the mice and snails, bad
Susana! Oh, wicked Susana!"

Now, whether these childish threats actually had some effect, or whether
the old lady was so soft-hearted as her comfortable appearance denoted,
certain it is that she took a key from her pocket and passed it through
the tall gilt railings to La Giralda.

"Go down a hundred yards or so," she said, "and there you will find a
gate. Open it with that key and bring over your animals to the little
pavilion among the trees by the fountain."

Upon hearing this the Princess instantly changed her tune. She had got
her own way, and now it was "Beautiful Dona Susana! Precious and
loveliest companion, when I am Queen you shall have the greatest and
handsomest grandee in the kingdom to be your husband, and walk in
diamonds and rubies at our court balls! Yes, you shall. I promise it by
my royal oath. And now I will run to the house kitchen for basins to
catch the goats' milk in, and my little churn to churn the butter
in--and--and----"

But before she had catalogued half the things that she meant to find and
bring she departed at the top of her speed, making the air ring with her
shouts of delight.

Slowly, and with the meekest dignity, La Giralda did as she was bidden.
She found the little gate, which, indeed, proved so narrow that she
could not get her donkey to pass through with his great side-burdens of
fagots. But as these were not at all heavy, La Giralda herself detached
them, and, laying them carefully within the railings, she unhaltered the
patient beast and, tying him only with a cord about his neck, left him a
generous freedom of browsing upon the royal grass-plots and undergrowth.

The goats, however, perhaps alarmed by the trim daintiness of the place
and the unwonted spectacle of unlimited leaves and forage, kept close
together. One or two of them, indeed, smelt doubtfully at luxuriant
tufts, but as they had only previously seen grass in single blades, and
amid Saharas of grav